EINSTEINS with stars in their eyes are being sought for an explosive start to Cheshire and Warrington upcoming science festival.

The festival bursts into life next month with an action packed line-up of events for all the family.

And to launch the festival organ-isers have challenged schools across Chester and district to build their own rocket.

The Rubbish Dump Rocket challenge will test student's design and building skills. The aim is to create an air pressured, water-propelled rocket from discarded pop bottles.

Prizes will be awarded for the rockets that fly the highest and furthest, but the challenge is also open to primary schools who want to test their designing skills.

Winners of the Chester challenge will go on to meet finalists in a Cheshire wide 'blast off' at Chester Racecourse in June.

A cash prize is up for grabs for the winning school.

Professor Chris Smith, who is organising the rocket challenge, said the event was designed to be fun but also had a practical side in that it gave students opportunities to test their skills across a wide range of scientific disciplines.

Creating the rockets will pose design, and mathematical questions and the physics of successful flight will need to be considered. Issues surrounding the engineering and manufacture of the rocket will also need to be addressed.

Andrew Bate, of the Chester Astronomical Society, is helping schools create their rockets and is available to show science students how to get their projects under way.

The festival launches on March 12 to coincide with National Science Week, but this year events will continue until June. The emphasis is on taking science into the community, giving as many people as possible opportunities to see science in action.

Professor Graham Bonwick, who heads the science festival team, said the festival would be a celebration of the county's significant contribution to the scientific and technological expertise of the UK.

'Industry, research institutes, education and training providers will be involved in a range of activities, to demonstrate how science contributes to society,' he said.

A detailed list of all the events appears on the science festival website www.cwsf.org.uk

The North West Regional Development Agency and the Cheshire and Warrington Learning and Skills Council have jointly sponsored the festival.

Festival organisers have invited employers in the science, engineering and manufacturing industries in Warrington and across Cheshire to join in with festival activities to help promote science-based career opportunities to young people and promote their own achievements.

Businesses are also being encouraged to host familiarisation visits with high schools and community groups to demonstrate how they are using science in their day-to-day operations. Schools who wish to compete should contact the science festival office on 01244 221204.